Systems and methods for managing workflow based on search escalation for worker procurement

ABSTRACT

A system is disclosed that includes one or more “HOME”s where there is a (1) “DAD”computer and software system for human User interaction to initiate Jobs (Transcription, Translation, Data Entry, and Transaction Creation) and to utilize voice-mail through real-time voice and tone signal input and (2) “HIS” computer and software system for keeping the databases used to process Jobs and for keeping the statistical records of jobs for analysis, general ledger, payroll and billing. In addition the system includes one or more “MOM”s where there is a software system server on a computer set on the backbone of a global communication network (e.g. Internet) that (1) receives Job packets from its HOMEs, (2) selects Scribes for work (e.g. transcription), (3) generates messages in the form of E-Mail and Voice-Mail to specified users for information or action, (4) updates the status of the Job Record and transferring that updated Record to a SUPERMOM, (5) implements all the details of job processing steps and logic that has been controlled by Human Supervisors. The system may further include a “SUPERMOM” where there is a software system server on a computer set on the backbone of the global computer network (e.g. Internet) that receives Job Packets from MOMs where portions of the job are spread over two or more MOMs; SUPERMOM directs and transfers that job data; receives Job Record updates and maintains a Site for on-line internet job tracking inquiries; SUPERMOM selects Scribes for Jobs that are not able to find an available Scribe within their own MOM&#39;s HOMEs, collects the statistical and financial data from all the HOMEs, and provides general top level management decision making information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/389,116, filed May 29, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/694,884, filed Oct. 24, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No.6,604,124, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/041,839, filed Mar. 12, 1998, now abandoned, which claims benefitunder 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application No.60/040,753, filed Mar. 13, 1997. The disclosure of each of theabove-referenced U.S. patent applications is hereby incorporated hereinby reference.

REFERENCE TO COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX

This application includes a computer program listing appendix on compactdisc. The compact disc includes a single file named“iscb00006asciifig.txt,” created Dec. 2, 2004. The size of the file is80 kilobytes. The contents of the computer program listing appendix arehereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to hardware, software, and methods andprocesses of using them in a system for automatic electronic documentprocessing. One application of the present invention includestranscription, including automated assignment of jobs towidely-scattered individual scribes, automated management of billinginformation, and providing for scribe queries of authors. Anotherapplication of the present invention includes multimedia and electronicfile creation, allowing authors to create multimedia documents eventhough the authors are interacting with the system solely through astandard telephone connection. Portions of the invention are preferablyimplemented over a global communication network (e.g. the Internet).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system of the present invention consists of (A) one or more “HOME”s,connected to an internet provider not more than two “hops” away from theinternet backbone, where there is a (1) “DAD” computer and softwaresystem for human User interaction to initiate Jobs of Transcription,Translation, Data Entry, and transaction creation and to Input at JobSteps, and to utilize Voice-Mail through real-time voice and tone signalinput and (2) “HIS” computer and software system for keeping theDatabases used to process Jobs and for keeping the statistical recordsof jobs for analysis, general ledger, payroll and billing: (B) one ormore “MOM”s where there is a software system server on a computer set onthe backbone of the internet that receives Job packets from its HOMEsthat includes a Job Record, and directs the Job Packet to its currentdestination according to its current status, by a combination of placingit in a designated Directory, transferring specified parts to designatedHOME's DAD Mail-Boxes, selecting Scribes for transcription, generatingElectronic Worker Messages in the form of E-Mail and Voice Mail tospecified Users for information or action, updating the status of thejob Record and transferring that updated Record to SUPERMOM, and all thedetails of job processing steps and logic that has been controlled byHuman Supervisors; and (C) “SUPERMOM” where there is a software systemserver on a computer set on the backbone of the internet that receivesJob Packets from MOMS where portions of the job are spread over two ormore MOMS and then SUPERMOM directs and transfers the job data; receivesJob Record updates and maintains a Site for on-line internet jobtracking inquiries; selects Scribes for Jobs that are not able to findan available Scribe within their own MOM's HOMES, collects thestatistical and financial data from all the HOMEs, and provides thegeneral top level management decision making information for its largeinternational company.

The invention provides a system for the creation and management ofelectronic files in the performance of jobs, comprising: a) a MOMcomputer being associated with a plurality of HOME computers with whichsaid MOM computer communicates; b) each of said HOME computerscomprising a first programmed computer system for receiving input from aUser and for generating Job Packets and further for providing aplurality of Mail-Boxes for storing input; e) each of said HOMEcomputers further comprising a second programmed computer system forkeeping and updating databases used to process jobs and for keeping andupdating statistical records of jobs; f) said MOM computer comprising aserver in communication with a global communications network and furthercomprising means for accepting input from Supervisors; said servercomprising means for receiving Job Packets from each of said HOMEcomputers associated with said MOM computer; i) wherein each of said JobPackets includes a Job Record, said Job Record comprising Job Data; ii)said server comprising means for receiving a Job Packet and fordirecting it to a current destination specified in the Job Data thereof;iii) said server comprising means for directing a part of a Job Packetto a Mail-Box on any HOME computer in the system; iv) said servercomprising means for selecting Scribes for transcription; v) said servercomprising means for generating Electronic Worker Messages in the formof email and voicemail to specified Users for information or action; g)said server comprising means for updating the status of a Job Record andfurther comprising means for transferring said updated Job Record to theSUPERMOM computer; and h) said server comprising means for performingjob processing steps and logic in response to input from Supervisors.

The invention further provides a system for the creation and managementof electronic files in the performance of jobs, including a) a pluralityof MOM computers; b) each of said MOM computers being associated with aplurality of HOME computers with which said MOM computer communicates;c) a SUPERMOM computer being associated with a plurality of MOMcomputers with which said SUPERMOM computer communicates; d) each ofsaid HOME computers comprising a first programmed computer system forreceiving input from a User and for generating Job Packets and furtherfor providing a plurality of Mail-Boxes for storing input; e) each ofsaid HOME computers further comprising a second programmed computersystem for keeping and updating databases used to process jobs and forkeeping and updating statistical records of jobs; f) each of said MOMcomputers comprising a server in communication with a globalcommunications network and further comprising means for accepting inputfrom Supervisors; said server comprising means for receiving Job Packetsfrom each of said HOME computers associated with said MOM computer; i)wherein each of said Job Packets includes a Job Record, said Job Recordcomprising Job Data; ii) said server comprising means for receiving aJob Packet and for directing it to a current destination specified inthe Job Data thereof; iii) said server comprising means for directing apart of a Job Packet to a Mail-Box on any HOME computer in the system;iv) said server comprising means for selecting Scribes fortranscription; v) said server comprising means for generating ElectronicWorker Messages in the form of email and voicemail to specified Usersfor information or action; g) said server comprising means for updatingthe status of a Job Record and further comprising means for transferringsaid updated Job Record to the SUPERMOM computer; h) said servercomprising means for performing job processing steps and logic inresponse to input from Supervisors; i) said SUPERMOM computer comprisingmeans for receiving Job Packets from MOM computers where portions of thejob are spread among a plurality of said MOM computers, and saidSUPERMOM computer directs and transfers said Job Data; j) said SUPERMOMcomputer comprising means for receiving Job Record updates and furthercomprising means for tracking jobs; and k) said SUPERMOM computerfurther comprising means for assigning a Scribe at a second MOM computerto a job in the event that no Scribe is available at a first MOMcomputer at which the job originates.

The invention further provides a machine readable medium comprisingprogramming instructions for a HOME computer wherein said HOME computeris programmed: a) for receiving input from a User and for generating JobPackets and further for providing a plurality of Mail-Boxes for storinginput; b) for keeping and updating databoxes used to process jobs andfor keeping and updating statistical records of jobs; and c) forcommunicating with a MOM computer.

There are many advantages to the present invention. In the prior art,the number of Scribes available for work was limited in a few fashions.First, many prior art systems for handling transcription have hard-wiredlimits. Some prior art hardware supports a limited number of terminals,such as 12, at which transcribers and editors work. Second, since ahuman job manager monitors and assigns jobs, the human job manager canonly effectively supervise up to about 12 people. The first limitationof the prior art can be overcome in the system of the present invention;more Scribes can be added by expanding the implemented system. Second,the system of the present invention does not require a human monitor;jobs are assigned by the system depending on the availability ofqualified Scribes.

It is a further advantage that the Scribes can connect to the systemthrough telephone or Internet connections so that the Scribes preferablyconstitute a distributed workforce. This eliminates the need for on-sitetranscription: sites near hospitals (or other customers fortranscription or related services) are expensive. Indeed, it is notnecessary to maintain any additional office space off-site for groups ofScribes to use as a workspace. Scribes can telecommute if they have theproper hardware and software (the ‘terminal’ for the present inventioncan be a standard personal computer (or equivalent networked computer orsimilar “thin client” terminal). The advantages in saved time, energyexpended in travel, flexibility in scheduling are all some of theadvantages of the present invention.

As a distributed workforce whose productivity, qualifications, andresponsiveness can be tracked, Scribes can be paid on their production.Scribes who take the time to acquire more training, for example, will beable to command a higher rate of pay for those jobs that demandadditional skills.

It is another advantage of the present invention that Job Transactioninformation is available. The information can provide information aboutScribes (productivity, billing information , qualifications,availability in real-time, projected availability, frequency of queriesto authors, ability to update their own schedule in real-time, etc.),Authors (job status, frequency that Scribes have to communicate with theAuthor to obtain answers to queries, etc.), HOMEs (e.g. the HOME is‘farming out’ a lot of Scribe work to other HOMES in a particularsubject area suggesting that additional training and/or personnel arerequired) and others. Prior art systems do not allow for the real-timecapture and subsequent analysis of Job Transaction information.

It is a great advantage of the present invention that an Author cancreate a multi-content file while working from a standard push-buttontelephone, anywhere in the world. Armed with a phone machine equippedwith a fax, and an Author can create multi-content and multi-mediadocuments for inclusion in an electronic file. For example, an attorneycan dictate a memo regarding a personal injury case into the system, faxa copy of an offer of settlement for transcription and a visualattachment of x-rays of the client's injuries into the same electronicfile. The present invention is not limited to mere dictation andtranscription: faxes, computer files, audio, video, and other elementscan be included in Jobs and assembled by appropriately qualified andequipped Scribes.

The present invention can have many ways to deliver the electronic fileback to its Author and others. While the audio is being transcribed,certain Authors will have the ability to forward notice that the audiois available to certain other Users (Listeners). For example, aradiologist can dictate her review of an X-ray and forward thatinformation to selected Listeners. The final transcripted product maythen be written out to a file, database and/or printed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention, both as to its organization and its manner ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages, may be bestunderstood by reference to the following description, in connection withthe accompanying figure.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred representation of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The system of the present invention consists of (A) one or more “HOME”s,connected to an internet provider not more than two “hops” away from theinternet backbone, where there is a (1) “DAD” computer and softwaresystem for human User interaction to initiate Jobs of Transcription,Translation, Data Entry, and transaction creation and to Input at JobSteps, and to utilize Voice-Mail through real-time voice and tone signalinput and (2) “HIS” computer and software system for keeping theDatabases used to process Jobs and for keeping the statistical recordsof jobs for analysis, general ledger, payroll and billing; (B) one ormore “MOM”s where there is a software system server on a computer set onthe backbone of the internet that receives Job packets from its HOMEsthat includes a Job Record, and directs the Job Packet to its currentdestination according to its current status, by a combination of placingit in a designated Directory, transferring specified parts to designatedHOME's DAD Mail-Boxes, selecting Scribes for transcription, generatingElectronic Worker Messages in the form of E-Mail and Voice-Mail tospecified Users for information or action, updating the status of theJob Record and transferring that updated Record to SUPERMOM, and all thedetails of job processing steps and logic that has been controlled byHuman Supervisors; and (C) “SUPERMOM” where there is a software systemserver on a computer set on the backbone of the internet that receivesJob Packets from MOMs where portions of the job are spread over two ormore MOMs and then SUPERMOM directs and transfers the job data; receivesJob Record updates and maintains a Site for on-line internet jobtracking inquiries; selects Scribes for Jobs that are not able to findan available Scribe within their own MOM's HOMEs, collects thestatistical and financial data from all the HOMEs, and provides thegeneral top level management decision making information for its largeinternational company.

MOM Sites and the SUPERMOM Site have fail-safe systems for transferringtheir operation to a redundant site in another power grid when theirmain site can no longer sustain an effort to operate with a generalpower failure or with a “glitch” in the internet system.

DAD includes a system controller which is based on a 32/64 bit PentiumPro microprocessor operating at not less than 300 megahertz under realtime enhanced UNIX System and is capable of concurrent processing underUNIX. (Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation and UNIX is atrademark of ATT Corp.) The system includes not less than 100 megabytesof RAM, 3 serial ports, 20 gigabytes removable hard disk drives, a 3¼inch floppy disc drive, and Read/Write CD drive and from 12 to 96voice/fax ports. The system is provided with a basic voice operatingsystem, running under UNIX which provides the basic functions necessaryfor any voice storage and retrieval system; interfaces to trunk lines,analog to digital conversions for voice file storage and digital toanalog conversions for voice file retrieval for Author editing andreview and voice mail Subscribers (listeners). The system is providedwith a basic fax/modem operating system, running under UNIX whichprovides the basic functions necessary for any fax file storage,retrieval and transmission system: interfaces to trunk lines for faxreceipt from Users, fax-back transmission to Users and Guests. DAD isconnected to an internet provider by direct connection by the lowestbytes per second at T-1 (1.5) up to T-3 (or higher as appropriatebandwidth becomes economically feasible). DAD has a Power-Over Mode thatis used during a power failure, from battery back-up to an electricgenerator. It has a Power-Down Mode that is used when the generator iscalculated to fall for want of fuel, finishing those jobs that it can,not accepting new jobs, sending Electronic Worker Messages to MOM andSUPERMOM, sending E-Mail Messages to Authors and Clients who will havetheir jobs suspended and gracefully going into a Power Down and Outmode. On Restart, Dad knows it is not starting for the first timebecause it has retained memory of its Identity and its Power DownStatus. It Powers Up resettling all of its indicators to continue withthe Pending Jobs, sending out those same messages saying that it is backin business.

His can be either a part of the physical components of DAD or connectedto DAD through a MIS connection. HIS is a 32/64 bit Pentium Promicroprocessor operating at not less than 300 megahertz, with not lessthan 100 megabytes of RAM, 2 serial ports, 1 parallel port, not lessthan 10 gigabytes removable hard disk drives, a 3¼ inch floppy diskdrive, a Read/Write CD drive. HIS is connected to the Internet by directconnection by the lowest bytes per second at 56 KB to T-1 (1.5) to T-3.There is a MICROSOFT WINDOWS NT operating system and MICROSOFT SQLserver. HIS has battery back-up and is connected to an electricgenerator.

MOM and Supermom software resides on a system controller similar to anIBM 700 server running under UNIX in a Windows NT Environment/MICROSOFTSQL server with 18 slots for “hot swappable’ hard disks, minimum 200megabytes of RAM, utilizing RAID system drive check and recovery system,providing the basic functions of a WEB server for on-line access,storage and transfer of files for the HOMEs systems. Sizing of the harddrive capacities and bandwidth will depend on the number of HOMEs underthe regional MOMs. Supermom is the controller of work flow between MOMsand is the repository and server for job tracking and statementinformation for Scribes and Clients that span MOMs.

Users of the system interact with the system through POT lines calls toDAD for voice or fax interaction, and through the Internet to MOM andSuperMOM for movement of files and viewing of status. Jobs are initiatedby voice calls to DAD. If a job entails transcription the system mayprompt for template to be used. Some templates are for word-processingor data-entry by the transcriptionists and/or by independent speechrecognition pre-processing software of the dictated information; andsome templates are for voice-prompted interactive software processingwhere the user is directed to “fill in” a voice form that will betranscribed by a transcriptionist and/or by independent speechrecognition pre-processing software to a word-processing or data-entryform.

When a job is ready for Transcription, DAD passes the VOX File alongwith a skeleton Job Record Transaction and the appropriate Template fromits storage on HIS to MOM via an FTP. MOM takes the Job Packet, andinspects for accompanying modem-IP files and their number, updates theJob Record Status, FTPs that Status update to SUPERMOM, Date/Timestamps, creates a Job Sub-Directory under the Client/Author/TemplateDirectory, selects a Scribe using algorithms (such as discussed hereinbelow) with the Scribe Database Record, the Scribes ON-LINE and theJob's Priority and the calculated transcription time versus thepriority. If there is too much work to be accomplished in the prioritytime, Mom tries to split up the job into segments using thespecially-generated Segment Markers imbedded in the VOX by the DADsoftware on receipt of “Page” and “Section” commands for thetranscription. If the VOX cannot be segmented, an Electronic WorkerMessage is generated to the Author and specified Client User'sVoice-Mail Box and E-Mails are also sent advising of the projecteddelay. If the Job can be segmented, the VOX is broken up and Sub-Jobsare created and the Author and Client are advised of the number of SubJobs by Voice-Mail and E-Mail. If Scribes are not available, MOM FTPsends the JOB Packet to SUPERMOM for processing as follows: When theScribe is selected, an Electronic Worker Message is created inVoice-Mail and E-Mail, Job Sub-Directories are created under theirIn-Basket Directory and the VOX from DAD is translated to a Real-Audio®(or equivalent) file which is placed in their Job Directory, if the jobcontains fax input files from the Author, and/or modem-IP files from theclient, MOM or SUPERMOM goes to the Job Directory of theClient/Author/Template/Job and places those files in the Scribe'sIn-Basket. If the Job included any file that was to be sent by theClient and was not, MOM notifies the Client by electronic message, andwaits until the missing files are supplied before sending the Job to aScribe. The Job Record Status is updated and there is a Status update,Date/Timestamp to SUPERMOM. A clock begins ticking for the Scribe todownload the job. If it is not downloaded within time to transcribe, theScribe is notified of the Job's removal and the entire proceeding isrepeated for the next selected Scribe. When the job is downloaded by theScribe by FtP, Job Sub-Directories are created for their Out-Basket, theJob Record Status is updated and a copy is sent by FTP to SUPERMOM. Whenthe Job is completed, the Scribe uploads by FTP to her Out-Basket. TheJob Record Status is updated, a copy is sent to SUPERMOM and (1) if theJob requires a preview by the Author, the transcription is sent by FTPto the Author's Home DAD for fax, an Electronic Worker Message iscreated to the Author and sent to the Author's Home DAD for placement intheir Voice-Mail Box, an E-Mail message is created and sent to theAuthor if he has an E-Mail Address and the Job is put on a pendingstatus waiting for an electronic message back from the HOME's DAD thatthe fax has been sent, whereupon the Job's TIME-OUT clock for acceptancebegins ticking based on an algorithm equal to the designated priority;it reaches acceptance if the job is not rejected by the Author byVoice-Mail Reject, and the times runs out or if the Author makes avoice-Mail Accept and (2) the transcription file is placed in theClient/Author/Template in Box Directory and if the job has not alreadybeen accepted as in (1) above, the TIME,OUT begins when the file isplaced in the Client's directory. The Job Record Status is updated and acopy sent to SUPERMOM. On download, the Job Record Status is updated,Date/time stamped, a copy sent to SUPERMOM, and on acceptance byTIMED-out or Acceptance by the Author and the Client has downloaded thefile, the Job Record Status is updated, Date/time stamped and a copysent to SUPERMOM. The Scribes directories for that job are cleared aswell as the Client's directories.

Scribes are notified of work pending that is outside of their contractedtime range when the work is of an urgent nature to the system: Generatedelectronic messages will be sent by e-mail to the Scribe and by phonecall to the Scribe's designated voice phone line or pager from theScribe's HOME's DAD.

If the Job is rejected by the Author, an Electronic Worker Message iscreated for the Scribe's Mail-Box, an E-Mail is created, the Job RecordStatus is updated, a copy sent to Mom, the Author's VOX file for theReject is sent to the Scribe's HOME's DAD and a fax file, if included inthe Reject Job Packet, is placed in the Scribe's Job directory in theirIn-Basket. If MOM finds that the transcribing Scribe is not available orwill not be available for the correction, she creates an ElectronicWorker Message, and an E-Mail Message to the Scribe to be answered in xminutes, and if the Scribe Times-out, the Scribe's transcribed file, theJob's input files, and the Job's correction VOX with possible Fax Fileare removed from the Scribe's Directory, an E-Mail Message is created tothe Scribe's Home, a transaction noting the reject is made to theScribe's Database Record, and the entire Job is placed in the nextavailable Scribe's created directories. After the correction is made,the transcribed file is uploaded to the Scribe's Out-Box, and the wholeprocess of acceptance as detailed in the preceding paragraph beginsanew.

Scribe-Query Requests to Authors-for clarification of theirTranscription are initiated by the Scribe through their web-pageconnection to MOM with a Scribe-Query Request Transaction: they can givea voice-mail message for the Author of their current Job that includes a“clip” of the Real-Audio® file; the Heading and Subject are generated byan Electronic Worker; MOM transfers the message to the Author's HOME'sDAD; DAD places the voice-mail in the Author's Voice-Mail box forplay-back the next time the Author calls in. The Scribe receives theAuthor's reply by downloading the reply audio file that was placed inthe Scribe's in Basket by MOM. The entire procedure is documented byupdates to the Job Record.

Some Transcription Jobs, if using certain templates, are not completeduntil the content of the Job has been analyzed and processed by atemplate-specific software program: certain transcription documents needto be analyzed for word-specific strings that when taken together andcompared to indices of codes, will result in the document havingsystem-generated data associated with it. In these cases, the files thatare delivered back to the Client will include more content than wasoriginally supplied by the Author and the template.

Voice-Mail-send Jobs to Recipients within a HOME never leave the Homefor processing. If the Voice-Mail Recipient is at another Home withinthe same MOM, the VOX file is sent FTP with the Job Record to MOM whosends it FTP to the Recipient's HOME's DAD, where it is placed in theRecipient's Voice-Mail Box. If the Recipient is at a HOME on anotherMOM, the Job Packet is sent via SUPERMOM to the MOM of the Recipient'sHome, and that MOM sends the VOX to the Recipient's HOME's DAD forplacement in their Mail-Box.

Voice-Mail-receive Jobs from Users listening to their Voice-Mail neverleave the HOME. If a User within a Client Group calls into a ForeignHOME to receive Voice-Mail from his own HOME, DAD creates a temporaryMail-Box for the User by JOB-ID, tells the User the Job ID, the JobRecord Transaction is sent out from the Foreign Home to its MOM whoeither sends it on to SUPERMOM or sends the transaction to the User'sHOME DAD. The User's HOME DAD sends the VOX out with the Job RecordTransaction to its MOM who either sends it on to SUPERMOM or to theHOME's DAD where the transaction began and DAD places the VOX in thetemporary Mail-BOX.

Voice-Mail Jobs not involved in the critical steps of transcriptionprocessing are not sent to SUPERMOM for job status inquiry. The statusis updated so that the transmitting DADs and MOMs know what step theyare at in fulfilling a job.

Voice-Mail Report Jobs are part of a Transcription Job. Their recipientscan be at a foreign HOMEs within a MOM or at another MOM, but they aremembers of a Client Group. After receipt of a Voice-Report, theRecipient can request a fax-back of the transcribed document. It islikely that the transcribed document is not finished at the time of theRecipient's Listening. Therefore, Transcription Jobs that includeVoice-Mail Reports are not completed until they send the TranscribedDocument to the Recipient's Home for fax transmission by DAD forfax-back to the Recipient.

Transcribed reports can be fax-back documents for Guest Users designatedby the Author at the time of dictation. Guests call into the system as a“Guest”, giving the generated password and Document ID that was given tothem (outside of the system) by way of the originating Author.

At the end of any job that had to leave DAD for MOM, the Job Record(s)in its final state is sent to the HOME's HIS for transaction to theHOME's JOB Files for analysis, general ledger, payroll and billing.

E-mail transcription jobs are transcribed on a non-formatted generictemplate and handled as a simplified transcription job with delivery toone or more e-mail addresses as specified by the Author at the time ofdictation using indices of HOME user(s)'addresses and/or Author'saddresses for delivery.

Transcription jobs that result in a formatted document can be sent by anAuthor as an attachment via e-mail to one or more e-mail addresses asspecified by the Author at the time of dictation using indices of HOMEuser(s)'addresses and/or Author's addresses for delivery.

Transcription Jobs do not necessarily result in a file that is to beprinted. Even if the template is for a document, the destination of thedocument may not be a printer. Conversely, if the template is for atransaction to be applied to a database one of the destinations of thefile may be a printer. Transcription Jobs may contain only the slightestvestiges of audio input with the majority of the source being suppliedby supplemental files for the job by FTP to the HOME's MOM's internetsite.

Transcription Jobs that create documents can create a file that containsmultiple pages. Transcription Jobs that create database transactions cancreate a file that contains multiple records. Transcription Jobs thatcreate electronic files of any type can contain multiple parts that makethe whole as multiple “web” pages make a “site”.

Translation Jobs are different from Transcription Jobs in the followingdetails: All Translation Jobs require the file that is to be translatedto accompany the job. Preferably, translations are made from a file andnot from an audio source. If other electronic input is needed tocomplete the work, then the completed translation file would be input toa Transcription Job in the normal manner, but preferably to a HOMEoperating in the translated language.

Scribes are persons who key-in data to an electronic template, using akeyboard (or other input device as appropriate—for example, a drawingtablet), creating an electronic file. The source data is in the form ofaudio or any electronic file that will be used to partially orcompletely create the final electronic file: an electronic record can bepartially completed by transcribing from an audio file, and by agraphics file to be embedded, and by a faxed file to be visuallyinterpreted and/or transcribed; a multi-media transaction record can bepartially completed by all the above, and additionally an audio-videofile; and finally, electronic records can be created from sources thatcapture all the senses that have already been or will be, sometime inthe future, recorded electronically.

Provisional Scribes have been pre-qualified through an interactivewebsite program. Provisional Scribes are assigned to a HOME and arecurrently being qualified for a particular level of work by their HOME'sScribe Coordinator (Personnel). A Provisional Scribe “shadows” thetranscription of an Assigned Scribe. A computer program compares theoutput of the Provisional Scribe with the output of the Assigned Scribe.The comparison document, results and scoring are forwarded as a Job tothe HOME's Scribe Coordinator (Personnel) for handling appropriate tothe situation (for example, qualifying the Provisional Scribe for thehigher level or type of work). For some types of work, it may benecessary for the Scribe to be qualified by a human person (i.e. wheredesign, drawing or translation skill is required) but for mosttranscription the scoring can be handled by computer.

Compared Double Key Document Production is a function required for sometemplates when the highest degree of accuracy “mission critical” iscontracted by the Client. In the case of transcription from an audio orfaxed visual source, the original source is used as input to the Job'sSecondary Scribe (can be a human transcriptionist or “speakerindependent voice translator” or Optical Character Recognitiontranslator). The original source is sent with the transcribed record tothe Job's Primary Scribe where the transcription is shown on theirmonitor. If the original source was a graphic representation it is shownwith the transcription as split-screen windows, each synchronouslyscrolling line by line at an adjustable pace until a keyed halt forediting by the Scribe. If the original source was voice, the voice is“played” in synchrony with each line at an adjustable pace until a keyedhalt for editing by the Scribe.

Proofing Scribes are assigned by HOME personnel to Jobs “on the fly” atrandom. The HOME personnel can “tag” the Scribe's User record so thatall jobs are proofed until the tag is removed, or the HOME personnel cantag a job for proofing “in transit”, during the elapsing time that theelectronic file is being created, before it is completed and thecompleted file uploaded by the Scribe. When a Job has been targeted forproofing, the Job is sent to any one of the HOME's designated proofingScribes, provided the proofing will not make the job late for delivery(a systems generated e-mail to the requesting HOME coordinator will besent on non-compliance of requests). The original source is sent withthe completed file to the Job's Proofing Scribe where the transcriptionis shown on their monitor. If the original source was a graphicrepresentation it is shown with the transcription as split-screenwindows, each synchronously scrolling line by line at an adjustable paceuntil a keyed halt for editing by the Scribe. If the original source wasvoice, the voice is “played” in synchrony with each line at anadjustable pace until a keyed halt for editing by the Scribe. Theproofed job that is up-loaded by the proofing Scribe will be the jobthat is delivered to the client. The two versions are compared by thecomparison computer program that is used for Provisional Scribes, withthe results being forwarded to the HOME's Scribe Coordinator or otherdesignated HOME personnel.

Users

Users are persons who have initial access to the A:\Scribes systemthrough the phone-line ports. All jobs of Transcription, Transaction orVoice-Mail are initiated by a call to “Home” (a franchise location)where a modified and enhanced digital voice processing computer andsoftware portion of the invention resides and is referred to in thesedocuments as “DAD”. The Database Records of the Home are kept on aManagement Information System computer, referred to in these documentsas “HIS”, that is attached to DAD. Both DAD and HIS are attached to theInternet.

All Users have a U-USER-ID unique to their HOME. That with thecombination of U-USERNAME makes them unique to the universal system.

When a User pays an initial visit to Home they have some work to do toset up their Mail Box at least; setting up their access to theA:\SCRIBES sites; and (depending on Class) setting up their informationon the Home Database. For the Home Database Record, Home Personnel putin the initial information creating a skeleton record for the highestlevel of User (Group if applicable), then the User fills in the fieldsthat they have access to by pre-recorded prompts, whereupon it becomes aJob for transcription and the transcribed document becomes a transactionto the Home Database. When the User is setting up their Mail-Box theyrespond to pre-recorded prompts to create a Name Header that will gowith all their Voice-Mail Messages—their name . . . “Dr. John J. Jones”.They set up their password to the Voice-Mail (A:\SCRIBES ) system whichshould be the same password that they use for viewing their section ofthe Home Site. When a User creates a Voice-Mail Message they will beprompted to specify the message's subject . . . (e.g. “Patient Record497845-Jane Doe”) creating a Subject Header.

When a User accesses their Voice-Mail In-Box, they are told the numberof New Messages they have, and the number of Saved Messages they stillhave. They are presented first with any Electronic Worker Message(s) byFIFO. Then they are presented with any Scribe Query Request Messages(FIFO) to which they must respond before continuing, then, with generalFIFO messages with its Name Header and Subject Header. The Listener candirect the system to retrieve the next record without listening to theentire message, at any time in the Listening Process. The Listener candirect the system to go forward or backward within a message by 3 secondintervals; go to the beginning or end of the message. The Listener candirect the system to give the day and time of the message. The Listenercan direct that a Message be saved (for n days). After the Listener hasproceeded into the body of the Message they cannot get out of themessage until they respond to prompts to “Listen Again”. “Save” or“Discard” before being presented with the next Messages. If theydisconnect prior to a decision, the Message is not “Saved”, nor“Discarded” but remains in the Mail Box as a “New Message”.

The major class of users (U-USER CLASS, USER Record) are “A”uthors. AllAuthors have a parent company “sponsoring” them who are “Clients” of theHome franchise. The Client is the entity responsible for payment to theHome for the use of the A:\Scribes system by the Authors. Therefore, itis the Client that grants the permissions for the different types ofthings that the Author might request the system to do and the differenttypes of input/output that the Author might wish to have. An Author canalways do transcription and always do Voice-Mail Send. Some Authors cando Voice-Mail. Send to Foreign HOMEs. Some Authors can transcribe and,using their dictation, send Voice-Mail Reports whereupon the recipientof the Voice-Mail Report can request a printed transcript of thatVoice-Mail when it is available by fax-back. All Authors can initiate atranscription job (provide the system with the necessary log-on andjob-type information through voice response to pre-recorded promptmessages or through tone signals) and then either dictate in real-timeor tape-stream their pre-recorded dictation. Some Authors can add fileinput to their transcription job which can be in the form of documentfiles, or any form of multimedia, including an audio file from broadcastradio, television or internet. Multimedia could also include webpageinformation, video, audio, radiological imaging, graphics, statisticalinformation from computer files, and faxed files. Some Authors canpreview their transcribed document or transaction by fax-back or e-mailattachment prior to the transcription being made available to the Clientfor retrieval. Some Authors can initiate a job from a Foreign Home. SomeAuthors (using free-form templates) can direct the placement of thetranscription and the formatting of the document through single signalplus voice command or through multiple signals corresponding to thecommands of a publishing software program such as Microsoft Publisher®for Section Break, Page Break, Headings, Paragraphs, etc. All Authorscan listen to their Voice-Mail. Some Authors can listen to theirVoice-Mail on their own Home from a Foreign Home. Authors respond toVoice-Mail Inquiries from Scribes processing their transcription jobswith Voice-Mail Replies (neither Author nor Scribe knows the U-USER-IDor the Home location of either's Voice-Mail Box in a preferredembodiment). If the Author-Listener is the recipient of a Scribe QueryRequest, the Scribe's Mom, Home, and Mail-Box address are “attached” tothe message for an immediate response (as prompted by the system) by theListener to the Scribe. The incoming Voice Message to the Author had anElectronic Worker pre-recorded substitute for the Scribe's Name Header .. . (as “Scribe Query Request”) and the JOB ID was generated by anElectronic Worker for the Subject Header. The Listener is put into aloop and must respond to the Scribe Query Request. If the Listenerdisconnects, the message is saved as “New” in the Listener's Mail Boxand the entire message is copied and placed in a pre-designated ClientUser's Mail-Box from the CLIENT Record; C-CONTACT-INFO fields. Atransaction is made to MOM updating the status of the Job, as “ScribeQuery Request Received, but Unanswered”.

An example of an AUTHOR with the most processing steps are Radiologistswho dictate their diagnostic report of a patient's film, allow it to be“listened to” by a number of other doctors who need to have theRadiologist's finding prior to its being transcribed and then canrequest a “copy” of the transcribed report for their files by fax-back.The Radiologist may request to preview the transcription before it ismade available to the other doctors or to their Client Hospital's RecordManagement System. If the Listener is the recipient of a Voice-MailReport they will be informed when it is ready for fax-back during thecourse of their interaction with the system.

AUTHORS are responsible for supplying their own fax document when theyrequest FAX Input with the job by fax transmission at the end of theirVoice-Mail Rejection (if it includes a fax) or at the end of theirdictation (if it includes a fax input). Authors are not responsible fortranscription file receipt/retrieval or Record Management. For example,if the Author was an attorney dictating a memo to a paralegal regardinga faxed contract, the attorney could read in her comments and attach thefax. Optionally, the faxed contract would be preserved as an image file,or, if desired, presented to the Scribe as content to be transcribed orprocessed.

If an AUTHOR is giving a live dictation they can give signals to“record”, “mark”, “reverse” (1 second intervals), “Reverse to “Mark”,“play”, “forward” (3 second intervals), “Forward to Mark, “Page”,“Section”, “Pause”, “Resume” and “End”. After a Pause signal isreceived, if there is no “Resume” signal within 20 seconds the call isdisconnected. Streamed-Tape dictations use the “Pause” and “Resume”signals to allow for Author manual input of the next tape side. The“Paused” dictation remains in the Author's Dictation In-Box under theJOB-ID until when the Author starts another Dictation Job, DAD asks theAuthor, “Do you want to resume JOB-ID nnnnn”, If the response is, “No”,then DAD asks, “Do you want JOB-ID nnnnn saved?” Then if the Authormakes the decision to save it (DAD responds “JOB-ID nnnnn is saved for30 days”). Else it is Discarded. DAD assigns a new JOB-ID to the newDictation. If the Author is continuing with the Dictation Job, they willposition themselves with the editing commands described at the beginningof this paragraph. On receiving the “End” signal from the Author, DADmoves the VOX out, creating a Job Transaction Skeleton Record andpulling out the Author's Template from HIS and sends the complete JobPackage to MOM via FTP. If the Author is still connected after they havegiven the “end” signal, DAD asks, “Would you like to Dictate a newReport?” If the answer is “Yes”, DAD assigns the new JOB-ID and givesthe JOB-ID to the Author . . . “Your new Job-ID is nnnnn”., and beginsthe process of determining the type of dictation job required. If theanswer is “no”, DAD asks the Author to signal the process that is to beinitiated.

“G”roup Users can send and receive Voice-Mail to Client Users in theirGroup and to Author users in the group by address (1-16) or by broadcastto Client (1-16) or by Broadcast to all Clients. They are notresponsible for any part of any Job. Except for their initial activityin setting up their status as a User, they are non-participatingobservers of the A:\SCRIBES system as it pertains to their Clients.

“C”lients are Users of Voice-Mail to any other User in their Client'sDatabase, and to any other user of another Client's database within thesame Client's Group. They can send Voice-Mail to Users in their CLIENTDatabase, or within their Client Group on the GROUP Database by aspecific Voice-Mail Address (from 1 to 16) or they can Broadcast to aU-USER CLASS in their CLIENT Record, based on their U-USER-SUB-TYPE inthe USER Record. Clients can also send Voice-Mail to any of their HOME'spersonnel (Home-Owner, Coordinators, Financial Manager and Salespeople).Examples of CLIENTS are Hospital Administration personnel and HospitalComputer Records Management personnel. Clients are responsible fortranscription file receipt/retrieval and Record Management. Clients arealso responsible for making Author-requested input files available ontheir Client/Author/Template/Input/JOB ID (lowest level ID generated byMOM on receipt of the Job from the Home (cleared out after Job isaccepted). Clients are the recipients of Electronic Worker Messagesgenerated by MOM(s) in reference to certain steps in the progress of aJob.

“S”cribes are Users of Voice-Mail to their HOME's personnel and toAuthors also, but only in the form of system generated “Scribe QueryRequest” transactions. In the latter case, Scribes can include a “Clip”of relevant sections of the Author's Audio File about which they have aquery. A Scribe's “Client” is their Home, and the Home Franchise cangrant them permission to send Voice-Mail to other Scribes within theirHome through U-USER-SUB-TYPE field as “H” indicating they cancommunicate with other Scribes of their Home. If the U-USER-TYPE fieldis “M” they have permission to communicate with other Scribes at otherHOMEs under their MOM; and if “S” they have permission to communicatewith any Scribe anywhere. Scribes are the recipients of ElectronicWorker Messages generated by MOM(s) or SUPERMOM in reference to certainsteps in the progress of a Job in the form of e-mail, voice-mail orcalls to a phone number or pager.

“P”ersonnel of a Home are Voice-Mail Users. Their Home is their“Client”. They can send Voice-Mail to other Personnel of the Home byaddress or Broadcast. Whether they can send Voice-Mail to other classesand other HOMEs depends on their permissions in their USER Record.Certain Personnel in the Home are responsible for setting up thedifferent records for the different Classes of Users in their Home onthe HOME's Database; they are assisted in this creation by transactionInput to the A:\SCRIBES system from the Users themselves when they setup their “accounts” on their initial “visit”. Certain personnel areresponsible for the creation of Template Files for the Authors.Personnel are recipients of Electronic Worker Messages generated bytheir MOM.

Groups, Clients, Authors and Scribes have access to their Home Site'sInternet Directory. Clients and Scribes can upload and download fromtheir directories. Groups and Authors can view their directories.Groups, if spread over more than one MOM, view their directory fromSUPERMOM Site.

SUPERMOM maintains a Job Status Site where Clients and Authors can checkon the current status of a Job that belongs to them (much like theFed-Ex shipping Tracking System that is available to Fed-Ex customersthrough the Internet, today).

MOMs maintain Account and Statistical Information for Clients, Authors,and Scribes with input help from SUPERMOM for those Scribes who haveworked for other MOMs. SUPERMOM maintains Group Sites for Groups whoseClients spill over into other MOMs with HotLinks to the Client Sites.

MOMs maintain Account and Statistical Information for their HOMEs withinput help from SUPERMOM.

In a preferred embodiment, MOMs pay Scribes through Direct Deposits forwork the Scribes did for MOMs' Clients. In the Case of Scribes doingwork for Foreign MOMs, the Foreign MOMs make payment to the Home of theScribe through SUPERMOM and the Scribe's Home then makes the payment tothe Scribe.

Scribes begin their work with their Home by initiating their Voice-MailBox and by building their Scribe Database Record through a Transactionsession where the Scribe is prompted for response. Home Personnel addinformation to the Scribe Database Record through a Live TransactionSession with their Home Information System (HIS). After the Scribes areon the Database and after the Home Site's Scribe Directory is in place,the Scribe is given instructions for first accessing the Site. At thattime the Scribe accesses their form where certain information isdisplayed and certain information is input by the Scribe: Scribe'scontracted work schedule, beginning and ending date for that schedule;Scribe's “ON-LNE BUTTON” and “OFF-LINE BUTTON” and HotLinks to otherinformation and functions. The Scribe will download the software neededto work in the A:\SCRIBES environment.

When the Scribe sits down at their computer to begin a work session,they will dial-in to their local internet provider. They will then go totheir Scribe Home form where they will click on the ON-LINE BUTTON. Thenext screen they view is their Directory. Any jobs in the inputdirectory are to be downloaded by priority indicated. They download allfiles for a Job. Only one Job at a time is to be worked on unless aprevious Job is “waiting for a Query Reply” (from the Author). TheScribe proceeds with the transcription, and if necessary initiates aScribe Query Request transaction, “clipping” the portion of theReal-Audio® file in question. If the Scribe has more Jobs that theycould be doing, they will be able to download another Job as soon astheir HOME's MOM receives a Scribe Query Status Transaction from theHome. When the Scribe has finished the Job they upload the file to theirOutput Directory where it will stay until it is accepted unless it hasbeen targeted by HOME personnel for “proofing”. If the Scribe signs offbefore a Job has been accepted and the Time-Out will not occur untilafter x minutes of their scheduled sign-on, the Job remains in theirdirectory. If the Time-Out will occur while they are unavailable, theScribe is advised that the Job is subject to rejection while they areoff-line and the correction will be given to another Scribe unless theysign-on within x minutes of being advised that their Job has beenrejected. When the Scribe closes their session they go to their formwhere they click on the “OFF-LINE” button.

During the Scribe's creation of the Transcription, they can adjust thevolume and speed of the Real-Audio® file through a control window ontheir screen. They can optionally use a hardware foot treadle thatcontrols the Real-Audio® file for “stop”, “play”, “reverse”, “fastreverse”, “fast forward” or they can use a software speaker-independentvoice-recognition command system for accomplishing the same effects (newtechnology).

If the Job that the Scribe receives has been pre-transcribed eitherthrough a human transcriptionist or through and independent speechcomputer software program the transcribed document is viewed on herscreen in synchrony with the original speech.

The Scribe receives Electronic Worker Messages by Voice-Mail and byE-Mail from MOM or SUPERMOM advising of work or Job Status . . . “Youhave new work—(x) priority work, JOB #nnnnn”; “Yu have a Reply for JOB#nnnnn”; “Your Job ”# nnnnn was rejected at nn nn hours”, etc.

If a Job has been targeted for Proofing” the entire job output and inputis transferred to the Proofing Scribe who will now be responsible forthe job through acceptance. The original Scribe's output will becompared with the Proofing Scribe's output for statistical comparisonresults. Both Scribes will be paid for their effort at each of theircontracted rates for both transcription for the template and forproofing of the template.

Scribes are contracted to be available for work certain days of theweek, certain hours of the day. However, they do take leaves and they dotake emergency time-off and they may need to reschedule their workcontract. The Scribe advises their Home of a next Leave to come, and ifpossible, emergency Time-off in advance, by updating their Scribe Formby entries to the S-P-OFF DATE: and S-P-NXT ON DATE fields, and ifapplicable by entering a proposed contract schedule in the correspondingform section. The form editor software edits the entries for completionand logic and when the Scribe enters the data, the program creates anElectronic Worker Message for delivery to the Home Scribe Coordinator(personnel) giving the Scribe User ID and Subject (1) time-ff or (2) ifthe proposed new schedule decreases either hours worked in a day or daysworked in a week. Home personnel will cause the program to replace theexisting schedule with the proposed schedule after communicating withthe Scribe and getting a new electronic contract “signed”. HomePersonnel cannot have the access to otherwise change the Scribe schedulefields.

Scribes are pre-qualified through a public set of interactive web-siteScribe Evaluation Programs (new technology) where they can register forthe opportunity for contract bidding with A:\Scribes Corporation. When aScribe is a successful bidder and secures a contract with a local HOMEthey are guaranteed at least the lowest level of expected competency oftemplate transcription jobs. To bid for a higher level, they will takethat higher level's set of interactive web-site evaluations. If theyqualify they will secure an amended contract with the HOME and they willbecome a Provisional Scribe for that higher level. A Provisional Scribeearns money transcribing at their prior lower levels of work, and inaddition “shadow” Assigned Scribes at the higher level of workperiodically when their work load permits them to do so. The HOME'spersonnel update their Scribe Record with the information that they area Provisional Scribe at the higher level. The Scribe initiates a shadowtranscription through her Scribe form web site, MOM builds aSub-directory in the Scribe's Directory as a Provisional Directory andhands the Scribe a Job that is being done by an Assigned Scribe. Momtakes the Assigned Scribe's finished transcription and puts it in asub-directory of the Scribe for comparison with the Provisional Scribe'soutput, along with Job statistic information that would be critical tothe evaluation process. Mom initiates a comparison program to be rungiving the outcome in report format which is available to theProvisional Scribe as well as her HOME. It is up to the Home to decidewhether and/or when to accept the Provisional Scribe's bid to contractfor the higher level of work.

“GUEST”s access the system from POT lines to request the fax-backs ofdocuments that have been made available by User-Author's. The Authorindicates during the dictation session that there will be guestsrequesting fax-backs of the transcribed document. The system generates apassword along with the generated Document ID and announces both and theexpiration date to the Author who will be solely responsible forsupplying that information to any number of guests that he wants toreceive the document. The system will keep track of the number of guestsusing the system by document, author, department, client, and group forapplying charges to the Job.

Referring now to FIG. 1, which shows a representation of a preferredembodiment of the present invention. SuperMom 101 is connected to theInternet backbone 102. Mom (East) 103 is connected through the Internetto SuperMom 101. A redundant Mom East 104 is located in a geographicallydifferent area, and potentially on a different area of the Internet tominimize the likelihood that a power interruption, cut cabling, etc.will stop information from transactions from reaching both Mom East 103and redundant Mom East 104. It is important to note that redundant MomEast 104 is preferably redundant, and not merely a mirrored site. MomWest 105 serves another region. Scribes 106 can preferably work fromhome, or potentially from sites housing small groups of Scribes 107. AScribe 106 can have a first connection 108 directly to the HOME 109 or asecond connection 110 to an Internet Service Provider 111. Authors 112preferably connect directly with the HOME 109 via a telephoneconnection. Institution 113 connects to the HOME 109 via phone lines 114and/or a connection 115 to the Internet.

Coding Sheets Explanation

The Symbolic Language Processor is a decision table translator andpre-compiler program created by Howard I. Bryson. While followingspecific SLP “grammar” it can be used by a systems designer using plainEnglish, and it can be used by a programmer using a specific codinglanguage such as COBOL, Basic, PL/1, etc. The Processor sorts the codedinput first by Section (Environment, Files, Data, Tables, Procedures.)and then by line number. The Processor checks for “grammar” completenessand use in the statements and for complete option paths in the tablerules. This pre-compile step catches clerical errors and points outlogic errors for redundancy or incompleteness.

The translator step takes the coded Tables and Procs and buildssub-programs from the procedures and tables: the name of the Procedureor Table is the starting point of execution; “Comment” lines will begenerated as comments in the appropriate language of the programcompiler; “Prefix” tag will be generated as “Tab-nnn-Prefix” step-name,and statements within the prefix will not be re-arranged or re-coded,but will be direct input to the final program compiler; “Tests” tag willbe generated as “Tab-nnn-Tests” step-name; “Actions” become“Tab-nnn-Actions” step-name; “Exit” becomes “Tab-nnn-Exit” step-namefollowed by an address used for return to the next in-line code of thecalling program. The processor re-arranges the tests according to therequested priority coded in the Rules which will be explained below.

Procedures (PROCS) are coded on plain coding sheets. Line numbers arefilled in by the coder. The coder must assume that the coding statementswill be sorted by line-number in the pre-compile process—just like anyprogram coding sheet. See FIG. 2A of the Appendix.

The entrance to a procedure is the first line of code following theProc-nnn step-name. The usual exit from a procedure is at the ExitProc-nnn-Exit step-name, where the address of the calling program's nextin-line statement is dynamically placed during execution of the programby the calling sub-program. The processor assigns any coded step-name aprefix of “proc-nnn” (from the title), therefore the coder does not. Thecoding language in a Procedure is exactly the way it must appear to thefinal program compiler-SLP does not translate procedures. See FIG. 2B ofthe Appendix.

Tables (TABs) are coded on decision table coding sheets which have threemain sections. Prefix, Tests and Actions. Line numbers within sectionsare filled in by the coder and therefore the coder must assume that theresult makes sense when the lines are sorted by number. Rules arevertical one-character sub-sections of Tests and Actions. Theoretically,there can be any number of rules, but practically, 16 is a good maximumfor any one table. The Translator sorts Rules by the coded priority togenerate condition and action statements that are in accordance with thewishes of the coder. See FIG. 2C of the Appendix.

“Tests” Section coding contains a statement to be tested according tothe conditions coded in the Rules sub-section per line; a line isconsidered complete on encountering a period. Therefore a statement canspan several lines while the conditions to be tested are coded on theline that ends with a period. The statements usually contain an“Operator” and the Rules contain an “Operand”. See Table 1 below.

“Actions” Section coding contains a statement to be executed (can spanseveral lines) according to the action numbers assigned in the Rules.The numbers are significant in this regard: The lowest number action forthat condition will be executed first and conversely, the highest numberaction for a condition will be executed last. Equal actions numbers canbe executed in any order. See FIG. 2D of the Appendix. TABLE 1 OPERATOROPERAND VS (versus) E (equal to) H (higher than) L (lower than) N (notequal to) I (not greater than) IS (condition) M (not less than (don'tcare) T (true) F (false) (don't care) Statement with no operator U(unconditional action)

TRANSLATION EXAMPLE: Using TAB-WD (on FIG. 2D): The Table is entered atthe top and the first coding that will be executed is in the Prefix—an“on 1” statement that is used extensively in the AEDP flowdocumentation: The expression is similar to the awk scriptingprogramming language “do statement while (test)” in that the statementis executed and then the condition is evaluated resulting in aone-time-switch preceding a statement that cannot be executed againunless the “switch” is reset. It is also similar to other programminglanguages' “on (the count of) 1 until (the count of) 1” conventions.

The next coding that will be executed will be after the“TAB-WD-TESTS”step-name that will be generated by the processor. Thefirst “IF statement” that will be generated is not going to be the firststatement that is coded due to the “Probability” numeric codes that havebeen placed in the Rules: the coder is asking the generator to place thequestion and actions associated with Rule 1 as the first coding to beexecuted, and the question and actions of Rule 2 to be placed forexecution after all other questions could possibly be asked. In thiscase, the coder is overstating, for purposes of example, that theprobability of being disconnected is a #1 probability, so that if therehas been a disconnect, the other questions and actions are not executedand the path treats the exception and exits back to the calling program.The coder believes that the most likely probability is that the Authoris associated with only one department. The reason the coder did notwrite the questions in order of probability is for clarity of the readerand ease of coding a complete decision table accounting for all possibledecision outcomes. The reason that the coder went to the trouble ofgiving probabilities at all is for the program to execute its steps inthe most efficient manner of time rather than space if the distinctionshould become necessary in the translation. Giving equal probability toany rules means that the coder believes that there is equal probabilitythat any one of those paths will occur.

The following is an interpretation of the paths following TAB-WD-TESTSstep-name entrance:

-   1) IF (NOT) STILL-CONNECTED    -   PASS TABLE-WD-COND/1″ TO PROC-DIS,    -   GO TO TAB-WD-EXIT.-   2) IF STILL-CONNECTED    -   AND EXCEEDED # OF DEPARTMENT FIELDS IS TRUE        -   ANNOUNCE: “There are no more selections, we'll start over”,        -   RESET TAB-WD-PREFIX-SWITCH,        -   GO TO TAB-WD-EXIT.-   3) IF STILL-CONNECTED    -   AND EXCEEDED # OF DEPARTMENT FIELDS IS FALSE    -   AND AUTHOR HAS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENT IS FALSE        -   USE DEPARTMENT RECORD SELECTED        -   RESET TAB-WD-PREFIX-SWITCH,        -   GO TO TAB-WD-EXIT.-   4) IF STILL-CONNECTED    -   AND EXCEEDED # OF DEPARTMENT FIELDS IS FALSE    -   AND AUTHOR HAS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENT IS TRUE    -   UNCONDITIONALLY, PROMPT FOR DEPARTMENT (FIRST) 3 TRIES    -   ELSE “NO”,    -   THEN IF DEPARTMENT RESPONSE IS “yes”    -   USE DEPARTMENT RECORD SELECTED,    -   RESET TAB-WD-PREFIX-SWITCH,    -   GO TO TAB-WD-EXIT.-   5) IF STILL-CONNECTED    -   AND EXCEEDED # OF DEPARTMENT FIELDS IS FALSE    -   AND AUTHOR HAS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENT IS TRUE    -   UNCONDITIONALLY, PROMPT FOR DEPARTMENT (FIRST) 3 TRIES    -   ELSE “NO”,    -   THEN IF DEPARTMENT RESPONSE IS “no”        -   STEP UP DEPARTMENT,        -   GO TO TAB-WD.

Please note that the coder has to cover all possible paths forcompleteness using binary arithmetic logic (2 statements give 3possibilities of T/F combinations; 3 statements give 7; 4 give 15,etc.). However, blank conditions such as displayed here on the left sideof the Rules are interpreted by the processor as “{circumflex over ( )}”(carets) the sign for “I don't care”, so that the coder does not have tocomplete the sets for all statements if the leading condition for thestatement is met (Rules 1,2,3 have implied “ don't cares” under the leadcondition).

The Processor would translate the above more efficiently than translatedhere so that the question: “Still connected?” would not be repeated,once the answer was found to be negative. Likewise, the question:“Exceeded # of Departments?” would not be repeated once the answer wasfound to be true, and so on with “# of departments, 'till finally thestatements in (5) would be reduced to κElse, step up department, go totab-wd” so that unnecessary programming steps would not be executed forevery running of the program.

FIGS. 4 through 54 of the Appendix thoroughly show major portions of apreferred embodiment of the present invention as contemplated by theinventor. The most complicated path, that of an Author, is presented ingreat detail. One of ordinary still in implementing such a systemshould, with the aid of the coding sheet instruction contained herein,be able to create appropriate program code so as to implement thesystem.

FIGS. 54 through 59 of the Appendix show the structure of the databaserecords of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 54shows the structure of MOM database records. FIG. 55 shows the structureof GROUP database records. FIG. 56 shows the structure of CLIENTdatabase records. FIG. 57 shows the structure of DEPARTMENT databaserecords. FIG. 58 shows the structure of USER database records. FIG. 59shows the structure of SCRIBE database records. Differentimplementations of the system would likely contain such fields,information, and relations as necessary to meet the design of theparticular embodiment implemented.

FIGS. 60 through 60I of the Appendix show the structure of the JobTransaction Record. A carefully designed Job Transaction record allowsthe record to support many functions. Billing, payroll, trackingroyalties, use rights, historical record of the job steps that occurred,making a basis for analysis of efficiency (e.g. Scribe, Author, Home, aspreviously discussed).

FIGS. 61 through 61F of the Appendix show a preferred method of thepresent invention of assigning Jobs to available Scribes.

While the above provides a full and complete disclosure of the preferredembodiments of this invention, equivalents may be employed withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changesmight involve alternate databases, processes, criteria, structuralarrangement, capacities, sizes, operational features, reports or thelike. Therefore the above description and illustrations should not beconstrued as limiting the scope of the invention which is defined by theappended claims.

1. A system for automatically managing workflow, comprising: a first computer that maintains first scribe data for each of a first plurality of scribes, said first scribe data including respective qualification information and a respective availability schedule associated with each of the first plurality of scribes; wherein the first computer receives a job record containing a set of computer-readable job processing requirements, determines from the first scribe data that no scribe in the first plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform a job step associated with the job processing requirements, and notifies a second computer that no scribe in the first plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform the job step, and wherein the second computer determines, based on second scribe data associated with a second plurality of scribes associated with a third computer, that no scribe in the second plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform the job step and notifies an fourth computer that no scribe in the second plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform the job step, and wherein the fourth computer determines, based on third scribe data associated with a third plurality of scribes, whether a selected scribe is available and qualified to perform the job step and, if the selected scribe is available and qualified to perform the job step, forwards a job packet to a scribe computer associated with the selected scribe.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth computer maintains respective third scribe data for each of the third plurality of scribes, said third scribe data including respective qualification information and a respective availability schedule associated with each of the third plurality of scribes.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein, if no scribe in the third plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform the job step, the fourth computer initiates a Internet-based bidding process via which a fourth plurality of scribes can bid to perform the job step.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth computer identifies a qualified bidder from the bidding process and forwards the job packet to the qualified bidder.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the qualified bidder is identified based on qualifications to perform the job step and a price for which the qualified bidder will perform the job step.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth computer maintains a list of qualified scribes that may bid on specified activities of job steps.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth computer maintains respective quality analysis data associated with each of the fourth plurality of scribes.
 8. A system for automatically managing workflow, comprising: a first computer that maintains first scribe data for each of a first plurality of scribes, said first scribe data including respective qualification information and a respective availability schedule associated with each of the first plurality of scribes; wherein the first computer receives a job record containing a set of computer-readable job processing requirements, determines from the first scribe data that no scribe in the first plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform a job step associated with the job processing requirements, and notifies a second computer that no scribe in the first plurality of scribes is available and qualified to perform the job step, and wherein the second computer selects, based on scribe data associated with a second plurality of scribes associated with a third computer, a scribe that is available and qualified to perform the job step and forwards a job packet to a scribe computer associated with the selected scribe. 